Foreclosure is down in Inland Southern California, but the telltale signs of homes in distress haven’t all been forgotten by consumers.

I know because I’ve let my lawn turn brown in a move aimed at conserving water.

Weeks ago, a walker in the neighborhood approached and asked, “Are you selling your home?” “Ah, no,” I replied. “Why?” She looked down, and I knew in an instant that the green, fade-to-brown approach had well-meaning folks in the neighborhood talking.

The survey, conducted by Chapman’s Anderson Center for Economic Research since 2002, is based on California consumers’ outlook on current and future economic conditions, and spending on big ticket items.

International Content Liquidations is selling the contents of the shuttered hotel from the property entrance at 100 N. Calle Encilia, Palm Springs.

Trappings from the 226-room hotel that is owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians — it's in a state of demolition — will be sold to the public beginning 9 a.m. on Black Friday and will continue until all items are sold.

Gas prices have fallen. Consumer confidence is up. Jobs are on the rebound.

Time to shop.

But this go-around, the Christmas shopping season is a game changer.

Shoppers don’t know what to believe by way of deals — or, when to venture out — what with more and more stores latching onto so-called “Black Friday” specials on the day the Thanksgiving turkey and hazelnut roast is carved.

What becomes of the traditionalist? Will they wave a half-eaten drumstick at the early-birds? Are you one?

The CoreLogic home price index for September shows the Inland metropolitan region ranked No. 2 in the nation for single-family home price appreciation.

Home prices in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario region, including single-family homes that have been repossessed by a bank or were sold in a short-sale, rose 9.5 percent from September 2013, outperforming metro regions of Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago Minneapolis, New York, Washington and Phoenix.

Its performance on price gains was bested only by Houston, which had a ...